Luggage bag



Nov. 4, 1941. K. sALAvsKY 2,261,291

LUGGAGE BAG Filed March l, 1939 INVENTOR. KEMA SALA V51( Y BY duw? M ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE LUGGAGE BAG Keva Salavsky, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 1, 1939, serial No. 259,073

3 Claims.

My present inventionV relates to luggage or traveling bags, and more particularly to the folding wardrobe type of bag. A bag of this type is characterized generally by the provision of a flat, flexible container of sufficient length to accommodate garments without folding, and usually provided with handles at its ends, so that the bag may be folded and carried in a generally U-shaped conformation.

This linvention is an improvement over the invention disclosed and claimed in my earlier Letters Patent No. 1,895,208, issued on January 24, 1933. While the present invention retains all the advantages of the device disclosed in said patent, it obviates certain short-'comings which I have found to exist therein.

It -is one of the primary objects of my invention to provide a flat, flexible luggage bag of the type described which does not require a supporting framework for shaping or retaining the shape of the bag. y

Another object of the invention is the provision of a comparatively wide opening in the inner or front wall of thefbag, the same extending for substantially the entire length and width of the bag except for a marginal portion of suitable width, whereby garments and other articles for storing or packing can be introduced therein quickly, easily and without obstruction; and the provision of a closure member for said opening which is hinged to and formed integral with one of the longer edges thereof, suitable means being provided for securely retaining said member in closed position.

Another object is to provide a bag having few parts and of simple and sturdy Iconstruction, and one which is capable of being manufactured at low cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described and claimed hereinafter. A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of the bag in unfolded condition, and with the closure member or ap in its open position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the bag in its closed condition.

Fig. 3 is a sectional `view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the garment hanger particularly suitable for use with the bag according to this invention.

Referring now to the drawing and more specifically to Fig. 1, the bag is shown yto be of elongated formation and comprises a back or outside wall l and a front or inside wall 2, the latter being slightly narrower in width than the outside wall, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. Interposed between and connected to the longitudinal edges of said walls, as by stitching, are the gussets or web members'3, one on each side, the gussets or webs extending for substantially ythe entire length of the bag, as shown. A suitable binding material, or piping, 4 is applied to the meeting edges between the gussets 3 and the walls I and 2, as well as to the meeting edges between the walls at the end portions of the bag, the binding material or piping providing a finished edge of neat appearance.

In order that there may be well-defined base and side wall portions for the bag in its closed or carrying condition and to provide some measure of rigidity thereto, I have applied to the inside surface of the back wall lthe at members 5, 5 and 6, which may be made of cardboard or beaver board of suitable thickness. The member 6 which forms the base and the members 5, 5 which form the two sides of the bag may be held in position by gluing or other suitable means. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the bag in its closed position assumes a shape of triangular formation. A lining material 1, preferably of silk, covers the members 5 and 6 and serves to make a nished appearance.

The handles 22 are'attached to the outside of the back wall at opposite ends and are brought together in closing the bag for convenient handling by the user.

Formed in the front or inner wall 2 is an opening 8 which extends for practically the entire length and width rof said wall, except for a marginal portion of suitable width which in effect constitutes one part of the front wall. A closure member or flap 9 is provided to cooperate with said opening, has an edge 8 integrally formed with an edge of the opening 8, and constitutes the remaining part of the front wall. In forming the opening 8 and closure member 9 a slit is cut in the front wall beginning at the point I2', extending upwardly for ashort distance, then laterally to the left, then downwardly, then laterally to the right, and finally upwardly for a short distance to the point l2", the slit being generally of the formation illustrated. At the upper half marginal portions of the opening and closure members there are attached respectively the cooperating parts I0 and I l of a slide fastener of the type commonly known as a zippen The cooperating parts I' and II of a similar slide fastener or zipper are attached to the lower half marginal portions of the opening and closure member, respectively. Each fastener is provided with a locking member I2 which is adapted to be grasped by the ngers and moved between the point I2 (or I2") which is one limit of its travel, and a point which is located substantially midway on the longitudinal edge of the opening and is the other limit of its travel. When both locking members are moved to the iirst location, that is, to the points I2', I2", the closure member is free to be moved to an open position, while when both locking members are moved to the second mentioned location, the closure member s securely attached to the marginal edge portion of the opening thereby closing the same. If it is so desired, a small padlock (not shown) may be employed to engage the finger pieces I2 of the fastener locking members for the sake of safety and to prevent tampering.

On the inner face of the closure member 9 suitable compartments such as ZIJ are provided, and they may also be provided with slide fasteners 2I for closing the same. If so desired' similar compartments may be provided also on the outer face of said same closure member 9.

Located at each end of the bag is a coat hanger I which may be made of Wood and be of the usual type, the wire hook portion of which eX- tends through an opening I4 in the front wall 2. For the purpose of reinforcing the material about said opening, patch members I3 are provided. The coat hanger I5 has the usual cross piece I6 which is adapted to carry trousers or other wearing apparel. Extending downwardly from body portion of the coat hanger is a wire carrier member I'I having the general configuration as shown to provide a series of loops. Hangers such as I8 are adapted to be suspended from the loops so formed in the member I'I. As shown in Fig. 4 the major portion of the member I 'I is oiset or bent out of the plane of the hanger body portion in order to provide ample space for accommodating the clothing to be carried by both the cross piece I6 and the hangers suspended from the carrier member I'I.

The straps I9, three of which are here shown, one at the center and one at each end, are attached to opposite marginal portions of the opening 8 and serve to hold in position the clothing which is packed within the bag.

Fig. 2 shows the appearance of the bag when in closed condition. Snap fasteners 21 are provided near the edge at the Opposite sides of the inner wall 2 (only one such pair of fasteners being shown) for bringing together the upper and lower marginal edges of said wall, as shown. The bag is further provided with the cooperating latch member 23 and the yoke member 24 whereby a suitable lock 25 may be used to close the bag to prevent tampering. For the purpose of reinforcing the corners of the bag, leather re inforcements 23 are affixed as shown.

Although I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the scope of the claims.

What I claim as my invention isi 1. A luggage bag of the class described c0mprising elongated front and back walls, the Width of the front wall being slightly narrower than that of the back wall, the shorter edges of said walls at opposite ends being stitched together. a collapsible gusset or web substantially co-extensive with the length of the bag connecting the remaining longer edges of said walls, said gusset or web allowing the bag to collapse when in open position, flat stiffening members cooperating with the back wall for determining the shape of the bag when in closed position, handles at opposite ends of the bag which are brought together in closing the bag, the front wall being provided with an opening which is formed by a substantially U-shaped slit, a closure member of the same shape as the opening having an edge integral with one edge of the opening, and slide fastening means cooperating with the meeting edges of the opening and closure member.

2. A luggage bag of they class described comprising elongated front and back walls, the width of the front wall being slightly narrower than that of the back wall, the shorter edges of said walls at'opposite ends being stitched together, a collapsible gusset or web substantially co-extensive with the length of the bag connecting the remaining longer edges of said walls, said gusset or web allowing the bag to collapse when in open position and to expand when packed, flat stilening members cooperating with the back wall for determining the shape of the bag when in closed position, handles at opposite ends of the bag which are brought together in closing the bag, the front wall being provided with an opening which is formed by a substantially U-shaped slit, the short arms of which are substantially co-eXtensive with the Width of the wall and the base of the slit is substantially co-extensive with the length of the wall, a closure member of the same shape as the opening having an edge integral with the edge of the opening which joins the ends of the slit, and slide fastening means cooperating with the meeting edges of the opening and closure member.

3. A luggage bag of the class described comprising elongated front and back walls, the width of the front wall being slightly narrower than that of the back wall, the shorter edges of said walls at opposite ends being stitched together, a collapsible gusset or web substantially co-extensive with the length of the bag connecting the unstitched edges of the wall, said gusset or web allowing the bag to collapse when in open position and to expand when packed, a narrow central sheet member and a pair of wider end sheet members aliixed to the inside of the back wall for determining the shape of the bag when in closed position, handles at opposite ends of the bag which are brought together in closing the bag, the front wall having an opening formed therein which is bounded by a narrow margin, a closure member of the same shape as the opening having an edge integral with one edge of the opening, and slide fastening means cooperating with the meeting edges of the opening and the closure member.

KEVA SALAVSKY. 

